NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell’s landslide victory last March delivered him a substantial mandate. Voters in Australia’s biggest state economy were sick of the hollow rhetoric that had characterised Labor’s 17 years in power. But after more than 12 months of Coalition rule, Mr O’Farrell doesn’t have much to show in terms of substantial reform.

So it’s little wonder that Business Council of Australia president Tony Shepherd has blasted the timidity of the O’Farrell government and urged greater “boldness” from the NSW leader.

It’s also worrying that the O’Farrell government’s refusal to sell NSW’s state-owned electricity network is, according to the BCA, damaging investment in other infrastructure.

The conservative side of politics should be in the driving seat at the moment in terms of moulding Australia’s reform agenda. It holds office in the four largest states at a time when the minority Labor government in Canberra is in disarray.

Liberal premiers including Mr O’Farrell, Victoria’s Ted Baillieu and Queensland newcomer Campbell Newman should – in the words of Mr Shepherd – “take a risk”. Conservative state leaders need to consider the example set by former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett who was prepared to tackle that state’s reform agenda and make tough decisions.